Geranium plant named ‘Balfanimvio’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Balfanimvio’, characterized by its semi-double type medium violet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with zonation, and vigorous, upright growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfanimvio’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Balfanimvio’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during February 2003. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Geranium cultivars that flower uniformlyand have large flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and a moderatelyvigorous, upright growth habit.

The new Geranium cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryPelargonium×hortorum breeding selection designated 3040-2, not patented,characterized by its semi-double type dark violet-colored flowers, darkgreen-colored foliage with zonation, and upright growth habit. The male(pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryPelargonium×hortorum breeding selection designated BFP-3658, notpatented, characterized by its semi-double type darkpurple-violet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and uprightgrowth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring May 2004 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMay 2004 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfanimvio’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type medium violet-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage with zonation; and    -   3. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower color and foliage color and from plants of the maleparent primarily in flower color.

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar isFantasia® Violet ‘Balfanvio’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,648. However, inside by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plantsof ‘Balfanvio’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from        plants of ‘Balfanvio’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are taller and wider than plants        of ‘Balfanvio’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfanimvio’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balfanimvio’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual umbel of‘Balfanimvio’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balfanimvio’.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of‘Balfanimvio’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Color Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on Jul. 18, 2006 between 9:00a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-coveredgreenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercialpractice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch potsfor 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatureswere maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.)during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.)during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Balfanimvio.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Pelargonium×hortorum breeding selection            designated 3040-2, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Pelargonium× hortorum breeding selection            designated BFP-3658, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 13 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 18 to 20            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 21.1 cm. Height from soil level to top of            foliage: Approximately 11.0 cm. Width: Approximately 22.8            cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main            branches per plant: Approximately 2.        -   Branch.—Strength. Strong. Length: Approximately 4.1 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 8.6 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Mixture of colorless, transparent; and 29C, transparent.            Color of young and mature stems: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 9. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:            Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and            blade is perpendicular to stem. Shape: Reniform. Margin:            Crenate, palmately lobed. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cordate.            Venation Pattern: Palmate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 5.2 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            8.7 cm. Texture of upper surface: Pubescent with a mixture            of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Texture of lower            surface: Pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs, dense on venation. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: 137A with venation of 137A. Color of lower surface            of young foliage: 146A with venation of 147C. Color of upper            surface of mature foliage: 137B with a very weak zone of            147A and venation of 137B. Color of lower surface of mature            foliage: 147B with venation of 147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 5.8 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Mixture of colorless, transparent; and 29C, transparent.            Color: 144A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfanimvio’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            13 to 15 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Umbel. Positioned above foliage.            Quantity of fully open umbels per plant: Approximately 1.            Quantity of developing umbels per plant: Approximately: 2.            Fragrance: None. Length or height: Approximately 6.5 cm.            Width: Approximately 10.1 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers            per inflorescence: Approximately 12.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 14.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.5 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of colorless,            transparent; and 29C, transparent. Color: 144A with an            overlay of 187C.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elliptic. Length:            Approximately 1.7 cm. Width: Approximately 9.5 mm. Sepal            texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Mixture            of colorless, transparent; and 29C, transparent. Petal            texture: Glabrous. Petals color: 45B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 4.9 cm.            Depth: Approximately 1.9 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Approximately 6 petals and 1            irregularly-shaped petaloid per flower. Shape: Obovate.            Appearance: Velvety, iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Length of upper petals:            Approximately 2.9 cm. Width of upper petals: Approximately            1.8 cm. Length of lower petals: Approximately 2.6 cm. Width            of lower petals: Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of upper            petals when fully open: 45B at margin transitioning to N57A            toward center with an overlay of 40A from center to base and            venation of 46A. Color of lower surface of upper petals when            fully open: N57A at margin fading to N57C toward base with            an overlay at base of 40B. Color of upper surface of flower            petals when fully open: N57A with margin of 45B and venation            at base of 46A. Color of lower surface of lower petals when            fully open: N57A with margin of 45B and venation of 187D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: 5-pointed star. Diameter: Approximately 2.2            cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Approximately 5. Shape:            Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Fused.            Length of upper sepal: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width of upper            sepal: Approximately 4.9 mm. Length of lower sepals:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of lower sepals: Approximately            3.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of colorless,            transparent; and 29C, transparent. Color of upper surface:            144A. Color of lower surface: 144A with an overlay of 187C.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 2.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.4 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of            glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of            colorless, transparent; and 29C, transparent. Color: 146A            with an overlay of 187C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of mature stamens:            Approximately 9 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 72A. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: N30A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm.            Stigma shape: 5 branched. Stigma length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Stigma color: 47D. Style length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Style color: Lighter than 153D. Ovary length:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely pubescent.            Ovary color: 144C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Geranium has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Balfanimvio’,substantially as herein shown and described.